Ford defends technology stance

28 Jun 2010 17:50:05

One of the men who blocked the use of technology in football has insisted video replays would risk endangering the "brilliant" game - despite the furore over Frank Lampard's disallowed goal for England against Germany.

Jonathan Ford, president of the Football Association of Wales, voted with FIFA against any experiments with technology when the matter was raised at a meeting of the game's rulemakers in March. Ford stands by the FAW's position and said it would be a potentially dangerous move to change the game so fundamentally by introducing goal-line technology or video replays.

Ford told Press Association Sport: "We have a beautiful game played by millions and millions of people which is the most popular sport in the world. Why are we wanting to change something so brilliant just on the back of one disallowed goal by England against Germany?"

He added: "Let's be honest. If it had been Germany that had been denied that goal we would not be having this debate in this country.

"If we introduce goal-line technology it will lead to replays and then to every decision being challenged down to a throw-in and that would change the game as we know it."

Experiments in technology were blocked at a meeting of the International FA Board in March, where the Irish FA and FAW voted with FIFA against the FA and Scottish FA.

Irish FA president Raymond Kennedy admits he was astonished that the match officials had not awarded Lampard's goal, but claims Michel Platini's proposal of an extra assistant referee behind each goal is the way forward.

Kennedy told Press Association Sport: "Goal-line technology would not have spotted Thierry Henry's handball against the Republic of Ireland or Carlos Tevez being blatantly offside against Mexico and I'm not in favour of video replays.

"I support Platini's idea. Had there been an extra official behind the goal-line he would surely have picked up that the Lampard shot had crossed the line.

"He would also be watching for things going on in the penalty area. I think this will solve most of the problems and still keep the game human."